AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2007 > June > 05 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USFalcons should’ve tried to get Johnson
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Terence Moore
The Falcons’ collection of draft picks this spring weren’t bad. In fact, they were pretty good.
You can start with exceptionally quick Jamaal Anderson at defensive end. You can move to Justin “Big Bank” Blalock as a welcomed giant among dwarfs along the offensive line. You can continue with the nice potential of cornerback Chris Houston, wide receiver Laurent Robinson and linebacker Stephen Nicholas.
Mostly, you can envision seven, eight or maybe nine of the Falcons’ 11 picks overall starting someday.
It’s just that the Falcons didn’t get Calvin Johnson.
They didn’t even try.
“I mean, how in the world could you not even try to get this guy?” said Shawn Jefferson, the former Falcons wide receiver, who isn’t exactly displeased with his old team’s negligence. Jefferson is entering his third season as an offensive assistant with the Detroit Lions, and his new team did get Johnson in the NFL draft.
The Lions have had the all-everything wide receiver from Georgia Tech via Sandy Creek High School in Tyrone for slightly more than a month. Even so, they’ve seen enough of Johnson in mini-camps and organized team activities (OTAs) to determine that the league’s worst team over the past six seasons just got that much closer to the middle of the pack and beyond. They’ve discovered what many of us have known forever, and that is, Johnson, the person, is as sensational as Johnson, the player.
No wonder Jefferson spoke of Johnson as if he were his second son.
“We all knew he was an exceptional talent, but he’s better than we thought, and he’s a great young man,” said Jefferson, the Falcons’ vocal leader during his three seasons with the team through 2002. “If a meeting starts at 8 o’clock in the morning, Calvin is there at 7:45, just waiting on everybody else. He’s always the first to arrive and the last to leave. What a role model and a perfect individual to build your team around.”
Translated: The suddenly image-damaged Falcons blew it.
Big time.
Maybe you’ve heard about Michael Vick and this dogfighting thing. Well, with the gifted Johnson and his brilliant smile on the Falcons’ roster, this latest and ugliest in a string of controversies for No. 7 isn’t barking as loudly.
The Falcons could have used a combination of their No. 8 pick overall during the draft and their two second-round picks to grab that No. 2 pick overall from Detroit. They could have proceeded to get one Michael Jordan instead of several Sam Bowies. They could have gone from a pretty good draft to a pretty great one. They could have gotten Calvin Johnson, and remember the words we just typed. Then again, you won’t be able to forget them: The Falcons could have gotten Calvin Johnson. You’ll hear that often during the next few weeks, months, years and even decades.
That’s because Johnson has the size, speed and skills to reach Canton as more than a visitor. In part, the words below Johnson’s bronzed bust should read, “And even though he was an Atlanta native and did many miracles at Georgia Tech and dreamed of playing for the hometown Falcons, he was drafted by somebody else.”
Jefferson still is pinching himself, along with his bosses. They’ve been doing so since their phone never rang in their war room during the 15 minutes they were on the clock for the first round. They didn’t hear from the Denver Broncos, Washington Redskins or Tampa Bay Buccaneers, three of the several teams who hinted before the draft of calling. Most strikingly, they didn’t hear from the Falcons who needed Johnson for so many reasons. “They really could use a big-time wide receiver, couldn’t they?” said Jefferson, already knowing the answer to his question.
Nobody knows the answer to this: How loudly will Falcons fans scream every time the guy they could have had does something greater than great?
Permalink | Comments (111) | Categories: Terence Moore
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By alo
June 6, 2007 11:14 AM | Link to this
What a waste of time reading this crap.
By Panther
June 6, 2007 11:14 AM | Link to this
We had more needs than receiver. I think Johnson will be great, but you can’t win the Super Bowl with one guy.
By Gatorhater
June 6, 2007 11:16 AM | Link to this
Yes, that would have been nice to get Johnson. Too bad the Lions wanted our first 3 picks. Too much to give up for the many needs we have. I would like to see the Hawks make every effort to get Durant or Oden. I doubt it with Mr. Lottery himself making the picks.
By Nick
June 6, 2007 11:17 AM | Link to this
You hit the nail on the head, Terence. Calvin Johnson was far and away the best talent in the draft, and the Lions weren’t exactly married to the idea of drafting him. Falcons fans across the country WILL be cursing the front office every time CJ embaresses opposing DBs.
By S Turn
June 6, 2007 11:18 AM | Link to this
Forget Johnson. We should have got Brady Quinn.
By THE TRUTH
June 6, 2007 11:18 AM | Link to this
LOOK AT THE LAST 3 RECEIVERS PICKED BY THE LIONS, ALL A BUST. JOHNSON WILL HAVE A TOUGH TIME THERE.
By S Turn
June 6, 2007 11:19 AM | Link to this
Forget Johnson. We should have got Brady Quinn.
By S Turn
June 6, 2007 11:19 AM | Link to this
Forget Johnson. We should have got Brady Quinn.
By Florida Falcon Fan
June 6, 2007 11:24 AM | Link to this
What purpose does it possibly serve to write an article such as this? I have several issues with your point: 1. One player does not make a team (as evidenced by Mr Vick!) 2. You already have a player that has yet to play one down in the NFL ready for a bust in the Hall Of Fame. What if he has an injury, or turns out like the other Detroit can’t miss recievers such as Rogers and Williams? 3. You make basketball player references that are totally illogical. Basketball requires 5 good players… Football has 11 for offense, defense, and special teams… DUH!!! The Falcons have many holes to fill and it would be more of the same past mistakes if they would have mortgaged the future for one player. Terence, get a clue and let johnson go!!!!
The Falcons will be much better served by having 3 big contributors out of the first two rounds than one, no matter how much of a playmaker he is… Need I remind you, someone still has to get him the ball?
By Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda
June 6, 2007 11:24 AM | Link to this
TERRENCE, THERE WAS NO GUARANTEE THAT THE RAIDERS WERE NOT GOING TO TAKE CALVIN - IF THEY HAD TAKEN CALVIN WHAT WOULD WE HAVE DONE THEN? - GRANTED CALVIN’S A FUTURE HALL OF FAMER BUT THE FALCONS HAD TOO MANY HOLES TO FILL AND A FIRST YEAR COACH IS NOT GOING TO MORTGAGE HIS FUTURE ON ANY ONE PLAYER WHO DOESNT PLAY QB
By dirtybyrd
June 6, 2007 11:24 AM | Link to this
how quick do we forget giving up so many picks for 1 player
we have so much need on this team in many areas that 1 player is not going to take us where we need to be, we are in a situation now where our team is held hostage on salary cap due to this exact action. yes we could have, but at what cost i think mr moore is missing the big picture here not surprized he seems to do this alot, think he has blinders on or just real real dark glasses— time will tell glad we took the players all 3 of them not just the great player that we hope would make the team better GO BIRDS
P.S. OUR RECEIVERS THIS YR WILL SURPRISE U TERENCE !!!
By John Ayoub
June 6, 2007 11:26 AM | Link to this
I love the Falcons, but we are going in the wrong direction starting with sticking with Vick over Shaub. It was obvious that Vick can’t read defenses and that he is a problem off the field. We should’ve traded Vick for Detroit’s pick and taken Johnson. What an offense we would’ve had with Petrino - Shaub throwing to Johnson, Horn, and Jenkins, and Dunn and Norwood in the backfield. Oh well, it was there, and we didn’t do it. Why do I keep buying season tickets? I guess I am a glutton for punishment!
By Go Dawgs
June 6, 2007 11:29 AM | Link to this
And of all those miracles that Calvin accomplished at Tech, he just couldn’t beat the Bulldogs. Hell he couldn’t even get 50 yards against them.
By The haters are worth Two dead fly's
June 6, 2007 11:36 AM | Link to this
We got just what we needed. Brady Quinn is pure hype. Go Falcons and Mike Vick ! 11-5. T. Moore this is just hype for the blog page. we need to know about our team. Calvin Johnson is gone. Vick is OUR quarter back and can’t wait until the season starts! This team will prove a lot of people wrong .
It will be so sweet!
By Yeah right
June 6, 2007 11:36 AM | Link to this
What is the point of this article? The falcons will suck with or without Johnson. Maybe the Falcons will put some of Vick’s pitbulls on the D-line. The pitbulls plus Grady Jackson can be known as the Grady Train - come and get it!
By escobar1911
June 6, 2007 11:37 AM | Link to this
This entire piece is both ill-informed and inaccurate. Terrence is implying that the Lions would have given the Falcons the #2 pick, arguably the best player in the draft for a 1st and two 2nd round picks. The guy is so daft that he doesn’t even realize that he made the most valid reason why this trade would not have happened, at least from the Falcon’s perspective. “Mostly, you can envision seven, eight or maybe nine of the Falcons’ 11 picks overall starting someday.” We’re talking STARTERS, not backups or special teams personnel- STARTERS! Now Terrence, if I came up to you and said that I’d give you one superstar wide receiver if you give me three starters (a super quick defensive end, a big bodied offensive lineman, and a potential shutdown corner) would you take the deal? If you say yes, then I have some land to sell you at the Seminole landfill. This team has too many glaring holes to try to fill with one pick. Besides, who’s gonna get him the ball? I love Vick, but if he’s suspended or doesn’t learn to be calm in the pocket (which is kinda hard when you don’t have any protection. Oh yeah, that’s why we drafted a OG!!)then the receiver is useless. How may times has a team been lead to a Superbowl by a pro-bowl receiver? Hasn’t happened. The falcons seem to have done a nice job thumbing the holes of this team without making a trade as silly as Minnesota/Dallas for Hershel.
You also seem to imply that the dogfighting issue would have been lessened by this pick…get real.
I really hope your editor realizes that you’ve been grasping for straws lately and really have brought no value in your columns as of late. (Unless your aim is to have people tell you of your ineptness, in which case you’ve been doing a great job!)
By Less would be Moore
June 6, 2007 11:38 AM | Link to this
So you’re saying that 1 Calvin Johnson would make the team better than solving massive problems at DE, OL and CB?
I love Calvin’s game. But in case you’ve missed the last 5 years, Vick hasn’t had time to throw the ball. What good would Calvin be if Vick is laying down instead of standing up to throw it?
And what good would Calvin be if we don’t get the ball back b/c we can’t stop anyone. See last Carolina game for example.
By ramwreck18
June 6, 2007 11:39 AM | Link to this
It would have been cruel and unusual punishment to team CJ with Micheal Vick after three years of Reggie Ball. It would be like a country getting George W. Bush as a president, and then getting stuck with, well, no one running is that bad….
By Joel
June 6, 2007 11:39 AM | Link to this
Let’s give Bobby P. a chance to install his offensive scheme, and to teach the “Vickster” how to run it. Ultimately, Vick is going to have to decide what kind of leader he is gonna be. If he wants his receivers to be in tune with him, and to catch his garbage throws, he’ll need to spend time on the field, instead of hanging out at the dog pit!
By FalconsforLife
June 6, 2007 11:41 AM | Link to this
Dumb article. Terence wasn’t so convinced before the draft about the Falcons giving up 3 picks for CJ. Its way to early to put CJ in the Hall of fame. How can you do that and the guy hasn’t taken a snap in the NFL. Besides, someone has to get the ball to him. Lets not forgot how much better his college numbers would have been if Reggie got him the ball more often.
Overall, the falcons had a good draft and we were able to fill a lot more slots than just at receiver. I still think Joe Horn (best off season signing) will be the needed leader on the field and in the locker room.
By CQ
June 6, 2007 11:41 AM | Link to this
Terrace, you have really bumped your head. Why would the Falcons take 1 man when they have holes at every position?
I would rather have 4 good players then 1 great player in football. They got a started DE, Corner, and Linebacker out of this draft. Thats very good.
By Jim
June 6, 2007 11:44 AM | Link to this
None of this matters. They traded the wrong quarterback. I thought so before and I do now. Would Detroit have taken Vick in a trade? I think so. Matt Schaub would have had someone to throw to. There is not championship or superbowl appearance for this team with Vick here. The teams that make the superbowl are the teams with QBs that make the fewest mistakes.
By BossLady
June 6, 2007 11:47 AM | Link to this
AJC should have tried for someone else too.
By Mountain Man
June 6, 2007 11:50 AM | Link to this
I’m glad the Falcons did not try to draft Calvin Johnson. Just like the other premium wide receivers they have had, Johnson would have been disgraced by the time the season was half over. Vick would over throw him or not even see him and then say something to the effect that Johnson was not running the right routes. A better idea would be to get Vick some elevator shoes.
By Rob
June 6, 2007 11:52 AM | Link to this
Just like the Vikings had to have Herschel Walker gave the Cowboys the draft picks to dominate the next 10 years. No thanks. Plus Matt Millin said after the draft he would not trade the pick.
By George
June 6, 2007 11:52 AM | Link to this
Mr.Moore I was wondering if you could tell me what it takes to be a sports writer for the AJC. It must not be much if you really think in anyway, shape, form or fashion we should have give up the draft picks required to get CJ. Sir not sure what your good at. Sports writing is not it but, what ever it is find it and stick too it. Stop writing articles on something you are obviously not very qualified to write on. Those of us that know even a little about sports would really appreciate it.
Dear Editor if you choose to wake up and get ride of this fool call me. Can not write good but it must not be a requitement if you are keeping him
By BP BALL at the pit
June 6, 2007 11:55 AM | Link to this
Cavin Johnson is great but we got some very good player in the draft. We have a coach and this team will shine. when you will hate goes out the window. 12-4 we win NFC south champs!!! The dome is now the PIT. Clevland has the dog pound we have the dog pit at the GEORGIA DOME. GO BIRDS!!!!!! Bobby Ball can’t wait!!!
By Dawgs
June 6, 2007 11:58 AM | Link to this
Forget about receivers. Vick will probably complete as many passes from Jail as he has in a season. Put in DJ!
By hjh
June 6, 2007 12:06 PM | Link to this
BLAH BLAH BLAH…..BORING
By Dawg Hater#1
June 6, 2007 12:07 PM | Link to this
Dawg are thugs have they locked any up today!
By Falcon4Life
June 6, 2007 12:12 PM | Link to this
Man, get a life. We got what we needed.
By VRON
June 6, 2007 12:13 PM | Link to this
This continues to show how inept the sports writers are at the AJC. I am still waiting for the “evidence” of MV`S guilt…..This paper was so happy to pour bloody chum in the water the last couple of weeks like media sharks….since there is no news, they turn to absolute “stupidity” like this…what if….shoulda woulda crap….columns made of smoke and mirrors….and this the biggest paper in the state…..go figure, how useless!!!
By Anonymous
June 6, 2007 12:16 PM | Link to this
Calvin will be good, but not good enough to give up three potential starters for.
By Justin
June 6, 2007 12:16 PM | Link to this
Once again here we have Terrence Moore with trash talk. It must not take much to be a reporter at the AJC. This article is stupid. As usual Mr. Moore is talking about something he knows nothing about.
By Justin
June 6, 2007 12:17 PM | Link to this
Once again here we have Terrence Moore with trash talk. It must not take much to be a reporter at the AJC. This article is stupid. As usual Mr. Moore is talking about something he knows nothing about.
By Joshua Barlowe
June 6, 2007 12:18 PM | Link to this
Well, it all started when we traded the wrong QB (Furman was right). If we’d kept Schaub, maybe some crazy team would’ve given us the #2 pick for Vick.
Then we’d have a QB who won’t be in jail soon along with Calvin Johnson.
Oh well, thanks Mr. Blank.
By No Dawgs Here
June 6, 2007 12:19 PM | Link to this
What? Come on! Calvin just went through years of hell having a no talent QB and you want him to to be with the Falcons and another no talent QB? It would be unfair!! Calvin is great! However; as good as he is, he can’t snap the ball to himself and throw it to himself. Vick is NOT a NFL QB! Never has been and never will. Yes, he is athlectic, but his QB skills and NFL smarts are way below the average. The Falcons did good! Beef up the defense.
By How Stupid Terrence!
June 6, 2007 12:21 PM | Link to this
Is this all the sports writers at the AJC can come up with. This article is meanginless!
By Hatertots
June 6, 2007 12:23 PM | Link to this
And if they had made a trade for CJ, we’d be reading an article today entitled “Falcons Gave Too Much” and you’d criticize the team for ignoring the holes in both lines and the secondary.
By My Favortie Johnson
June 6, 2007 12:26 PM | Link to this
Given the FALCONS current on-field [ ahem ] “leadership,” I think TANK JOHNSON would be the most ideal acquisition for the team.
THUGS of a Feather……
.
By George
June 6, 2007 12:27 PM | Link to this
Dear Mr. Moore Could you plase tell me what it takes to be a sports writer. You sir are not even close if you truly believe in any shape, form, or fashion that we should have use the number of draft pick need to be able to get CJ. Do us all a favor and find out what it is your do well and do it. Please stop attempting to write articles about things you are clueless about. Dear Editor of AJC, if you choose to do us all a favor and get rid of this idiot call me. I can write about things I have not clue about and will do it cheaper. That is if you really do pay him to bable like he did in this article.
By Mark
June 6, 2007 12:34 PM | Link to this
The falcoons will never be a contender with thug Vick as QB. Shoulda kept Shaub. Arthur is obviously funding Vick’s “innocence”. He’s going down, and I can’t wait. He’s a disgrace to Atlanta, and the NFL. You can take the boy out of the ghetto,……..
By THIS_IS_A_WASTE
June 6, 2007 12:36 PM | Link to this
**UH, HELLO? THE DRAFT IS OVER. THE FAT LADY HAS SUNG! LET IT GO. TALK ABOUT PRESENT NEWS LIKE SOME SO-CALLED QB WHO’S GAMBLING ON DOGS.
By Jill
June 6, 2007 12:37 PM | Link to this
I miss Schaub. :(
By DRDAGREEN
June 6, 2007 12:40 PM | Link to this
EXCELLENT COMMENT by No Dawgs Here……Calvin probably would have held out of camp until he was promised that MV7 was out of the line up and out of town. Calvin is better off anywhere. Vick is the receiver killer,the coach killer and now the dog killer. Please Mr.Blank make some changes……we would love to cheer for the home team again. Put the guy at tailback or cornerback or punt return. he is definitely an nfl player just not a QB…we love you MV7……but not at qb.
By Shea
June 6, 2007 12:42 PM | Link to this
You’re an idiot, Terence. I am consistently amazed by your continued employment with the AJC.
And as a Dawg fan, please spare us any future articles/opinions about Georgia football.
By lyman
June 6, 2007 12:44 PM | Link to this
The Falcons have a history of letting local talent get away. Remember a guy named Hershel Walker? And just listen to the number of GA Buldawgs that are in the NFL. And speaking of Johnsons- “Meshawn” has gone to the booth while he has a couple of good years left but for the want of an offer?
By Vickafied
June 6, 2007 12:45 PM | Link to this
Vickafied. That is what the Falcons are, Vickafied. The Falcons are wasting too much money on Vick, the QB poser. $13M a year for a poser has cost the Falcons way too many opportunities to get real football players that have character to boot. Vick is the source of all of the Falcons’ problems and until he is gone, 6-10 is the best that we can hope for.
By TruthHurts
June 6, 2007 12:46 PM | Link to this
THIS JUST IN…The organization did not think Schaub was the answer. If he was as good as some of you think, the Houston fans would no longer be upset about not drafting Vince Young…and they are STILL upset. Schaubby was a decent backup completing about 50% of his passes and now he’ll have his chance to prove that not drafting Vince Young was the best thing for the Houston franchise to the Houston fans. Sounds like some people in here might just believe he’s better for Houston than Vince would’ve been…
Go to their blog and let them know he’s better for their team.
By johnny
June 6, 2007 12:47 PM | Link to this
Do you get paid to write this drivel? All a team would need to do is draft Paul Oliver and then “Calvin the Great” would be negated.
By Dr.Doom
June 6, 2007 12:50 PM | Link to this
The falcons should get rid of Dogfight boy and sign Daunte Culpepper!
By OldGold
June 6, 2007 12:51 PM | Link to this
Doesn’t matter if Calvin would have come here. Our present quarterback couldn’t throw it even close to him anyway.
By THIS_IS_A_WASTE
June 6, 2007 12:52 PM | Link to this
UH, HELLO? THE DRAFT IS OVER. THE FAT LADY HAS SUNG! LET IT GO. TALK ABOUT PRESENT NEWS LIKE SOME SO-CALLED QB WHO’S GAMBLING ON DOGS.
By TruthHurts
June 6, 2007 12:52 PM | Link to this
John Ayoub…you can always drop your season tickets. I’m not sure whether you know it or not but there’s a waiting list and someone will gladly pick them up.
By dash
June 6, 2007 12:55 PM | Link to this
Terrence Moore:
You not only a mediocre sportswriter but you also don’t know football either. Why would you give up 5-6 potential starters for one guy? A receiver only gets to tough the ball only 10 times a game at the most. Also, without a good OL or DL, it does’nt matter who the receiver is, he will never see the ball.This team has too many needs to worry about one player. If Tampa Bay did not end up with him, what does that tell you? The price was too high.
One guy will not take any football team to a championship, basketball is a different dynamic. You are talking about 5 men vs 22 men on the offensive and defense in football. The Falcons had one of the best drafts in recent years. So Shut up.
By Jack
June 6, 2007 12:57 PM | Link to this
Terence Moore knows a lot about everything, and it is a well known fact that the more you know about everything the less you know about anything.
By vinnie
June 6, 2007 12:58 PM | Link to this
Wow, Johnson here. That’s what we need another pot smoking thug.
Weare going to do alright with what we have. If vick goes to jail, then we might have a contendor. Go patriots.
By vinnie
June 6, 2007 12:58 PM | Link to this
Wow, Johnson here. That’s what we need another pot smoking thug.
Weare going to do alright with what we have. If vick goes to jail, then we might have a contendor. Go patriots.
By vinnie
June 6, 2007 12:58 PM | Link to this
Wow, Johnson here. That’s what we need another pot smoking thug.
Weare going to do alright with what we have. If vick goes to jail, then we might have a contendor. Go patriots.
By KB
June 6, 2007 1:00 PM | Link to this
Mr. Moore,
Calvin Johnson would have been a great pick for this team. No one can deny his talent. But no one man makes a team. This team has so many holes in it. The Falcons brass did the right thing in trying to fill the numerous holes in the team rather than fixing one hole.
Yes, I hope Mr. Johnson has a great career with the Lions and yes he would be a dynamic addition to the Falcons. But Mr. Johnson can not throw the football, catch the football, and block for himself while he throws the football all at the same time……
By RA
June 6, 2007 1:03 PM | Link to this
Okay Terrance,
I’m going to moderate the comments that I would make because I’ve actually garnered some respect for you over the past few months, but here’s the thing. This article was entirely out of line. Here’s why, if the Falcons had just needed that one great player to put them over the top, then your article would have made sense. They didn’t. Patrick Kerney left okay. So all of a sudden they’re paper thin on the D-line. Rod Coleman gets hurt, thinner still. Then you’ve got injuries to the linebacking corps. Add in the fact that nobody knows if Williams could be a starting corner in this league and the added fact that last year’s free safety couldn’t seem to cover anyone at all. That’s just on the defensive end. I’d get into the offense, but there’s just no time. THE FALCONS HAD TO DRAFT FOR NEED. Please don’t propigate the fiction that Atlanta was just one special player away from a championship. Nothing could be farther from the truth. In all honesty, our birds are rebuilding and you don’t rebuild with that one special player. You do it with several good ones. If Atlanta had pulled off that trade that you’re squawking about, it would have been no different than what Dallas did to Minnesota with the Hershall Walker deal. They mortgaged their future on one player. My point, it ain’t worth it. The Falcons had a good draft and considering their draft history, that’s something that shouldn’t be taken away from them.
By Sometimes winners lose
June 6, 2007 1:03 PM | Link to this
But I wouldn’t count Vic out yet fat lady singing or not :)
By terrence is a racist jerk
June 6, 2007 1:06 PM | Link to this
T-it is time to put down the Kool Aid and step away from the computer. The QB is not going to be able to throw to Calvin if he is on his back or running for his life almost on every play. They needed offensive line people and degensive Ends/Backs/Safeties to help the team. If the Falcons would ever wake up and use tight ends-they can get several first downs throwing 4-6 yd passes all the time. who throws the bomb at the 10 yard line anyway? Oh yeah -the Falcons. As for Basketball? Who cares! No one watches it-it is a thug sport and the thugs go into the stands to beat up the fans that pay their salary. What a concept-10 guys throwing a ball in a hoop and they can’t touch each other. Never mind that most of them did not grauate from college or went from HS because they did not have the intellect. Although, the fans are the STUPID ones for supporting these clowns. Mr. Moore-go buy yourself a CBA or USBL team and let’s see how good a coach you are. Put you r money where you rmouth is-if you can catch your mouth!
By ThaMan
June 6, 2007 1:09 PM | Link to this
Every time I see a blog line with “dawg” in the name, I KNOW it’s going to be some uneducated, hillbilly drivel. And looking at this today, my record is still perfect!
By Keith Helms
June 6, 2007 1:11 PM | Link to this
I don’t know if the Falcon’s should have paid to move up to get Johnson or not. However, I do know without a shadow of a doubt and for an indisputable fact that they did not address their greatest need, neither in the draft or trades. That is a good quarterback, both as a player and person. they traded the best one to Houston and have no plans to play the best one now. Vick is a very good athlete, not a great one. As a quarterback he is less than fair. As a person, he has proved he is under the barrel along with pacman and Thurmon. His bad play is not caused by a lack of ability but by a severe lack of intelligence and Blank nose up his rectum.
By TEAPARTAY
June 6, 2007 1:13 PM | Link to this
You are a true idot for writing this crap. You need to be writing about the guys we have and the future of this team. Dont you have anything better to do with your time. Remember that Calvin is now the on the opposing team so who cares how he does. You need to be trying to gear the Falcons up to beat every team that we play. They need to find a sports writer that writes on current issues like our 2007 Falcons and not the Lions. Kitna and Company is about to be spanked!!
By Big Ed
June 6, 2007 1:15 PM | Link to this
Terrance,
A lot of people in this blog don’t have the ability to read between the lines. Your real point is that if CJ were here it would take a lot of heat off Vick both on and off the field. More media would be infatuated with CJ. The problem is that if Vick needs a current or future “Hall of Fame” receiver to make him look good then the wrong quarterback left town. Leadership by example and character are something that money can’t buy. Good luck Calvin. You don’t need to be sitting in front of a microphone defending Vick on a weekly basis.
By Joseph
June 6, 2007 1:21 PM | Link to this
Wow…what a slow day at the AJC…i can’t believe i wasted time reading this column. I wish Calvin Johnson a great career in Detroit. But…
Thank God you’re not in Atlanta to read the crap that Terrence produces on a regular basis. I’m sure given enough time, you’d spit on the sidewalk or something and we’d hear what a mistake it was to bring you here.
By Big Jake
June 6, 2007 1:26 PM | Link to this
All you haters on Terrance ( Old Dirty Southerners ) find something else to do . Don’t get mad because you do not qualify at all to do his job . If you want Schaub , then go to Texas . Yall are sooooooo Stupid !!!!
By WTF?
June 6, 2007 1:29 PM | Link to this
TM did you follow the falcons draft at all? or could you not think of anything better to write about?
By Joseph
June 6, 2007 1:30 PM | Link to this
Terence,
Perhaps the upcoming training camp will provide you an opportunity to collect and publish newsworthy commentary. Have you considered submitting a constructive opinion (how the Atlanta Falcons give back to the community for example) on occasion to demonstrate your journalism skills?
By Blind Homer
June 6, 2007 1:38 PM | Link to this
We should have traded our top three picks, Michael conVick, and Terence Moron for Johnson and a QB that is an accurate passer. Calvin is still a few years from that Hall of Fame and would never make it here with a QB that likes to run and an O line that can’t pass block.
By texmex
June 6, 2007 1:41 PM | Link to this
Football is going the way of basketball. Too many blacks = too much violence, drugs, assaults, etc. Some role models for youth! Every punk in the NFL who is even suspected of such activity should automatically be suspended until exonorated. Fines need to be given out. BIG FINES. It’s time to clean up this sport or it will end up like the NBA.
By Dawg Hater#1
June 6, 2007 1:43 PM | Link to this
Any time YOU see Dawg there is most times rednecks or hillbillies behine it. That why The smith Family that had the Falcons lost so much listening to these clowns at UGA fan base clueless. So gland we have a new owner that is not tied to any school! Go blank!! Man with the money! T. Moore you are lost!
By jorush
June 6, 2007 1:46 PM | Link to this
Admittedly I did not finish reading this but pour the effort into our draft and the great guys that they are and not Monday QB a good draft in that case we should have take Ronde and Tiki in 1997.
By derrick
June 6, 2007 1:49 PM | Link to this
ho hum TM We didn’t get him b/c Millen was not willing to deal, plain and simple..
By Mark
June 6, 2007 1:51 PM | Link to this
Dawg Hater#1
www.dictionary.com
Nice inner city school education. LOL!!
By Dawg Hater#1
June 6, 2007 1:51 PM | Link to this
Mike Vick we love you man. You should have put some of these sorry Dawg fans in the pit. Go Gators and who ever else who beats them clowns! UGA house of thugs!
By Sometimes winners lose
June 6, 2007 1:52 PM | Link to this
texmex: Too many blacks = too much violence, drugs, assaults, etc.??? unfortunately your very first premise negates the ability of any intelligent person to take you serious.
Either you don’t want anyone to take you serious or you are a sad silly sumbitc-. Which is it it?
By Jamie
June 6, 2007 1:55 PM | Link to this
I am not shocked Calvin Johnson is black and we all know how Terrance Moore feels about that he would probably suggest that we trade all of the white players for Gary Sheffiled and some dog fighters.
By Don Imus
June 6, 2007 1:57 PM | Link to this
Just when i think terrance has written the worst garbage of his illustrious career, he proves me wrong again and again. There is no way he has this job if he is white. The AJC is scared to cut him loose cause he will have Jesse and Al down here (another couple of losers).
Are we supposed to buy this drivel written by a guy who yesterday was saying how Gary Sheffield is right in his racist comments regarding Latino players? Terrance you exposed your racist a* yesterday and u cannot hide from it any longer. I read many major city newspapers daily and i am amazed that a city the size of Atlanta has such a pathetic person as a sports writer. Please tell me he does this for free. Then it might make more sense.
By jorush
June 6, 2007 1:59 PM | Link to this
Okay for the sake of “you don’t know what I said” i finished it Are you for real? Do you hate the Atlanta Sports scene so much that you kill the new guys? You are the kind of guy that if the Falcons had made all of those moves you would say that there were more needs to be filled so save it.
By Dawg Hater#1
June 6, 2007 1:59 PM | Link to this
To all the haters we have a great QB. MIKE VICK #7. I GOT MY TICKETS. All who don’t like mike can do like the southwest air commercial you are free to go! BY 12-4
By texmex
June 6, 2007 2:02 PM | Link to this
Sometimes winners lose
Any intelligent person knows what I posted is true. I posted a fact. Sorry if it hit home, but the truth hurts sometimes. Deal with it.
By Freddy G
June 6, 2007 2:05 PM | Link to this
Fred Gibson is the answer. The falcons did not take Calvin because they knew Fred was going to show up big time.
By Bad NewsVA
June 6, 2007 2:06 PM | Link to this
Who’s leading that sinking ship in Houston. They choose a Combine Phenom over Reggie Bush. Yeah, like somebody in that organiztion has a clue. To compund the insanity of it all, they wash their hands of their stating first franchise pick qb for back up scrub. Take the organization from Houston and give it to a deserving city.
By Mark
June 6, 2007 2:07 PM | Link to this
Dawg Hater#1
Yeah, 12-4. 12 arrests, 4 convictions.
By Kiljoy
June 6, 2007 2:08 PM | Link to this
Why do I have the feeling that if the Falcon’s had done as you suggested, that you would have written an article critizing them for drafting yet another receiver?
Those who can do! Those who can’t write!
By Sometimes winners lose
June 6, 2007 2:14 PM | Link to this
texmex: maybe your formula does work - pick any arena; pick the majority in that arena; then evaluate whether that majority is the cause of all the ills and no members of that majority are good guys…..let’s see: who is the majority in the government? who is the majority in corporate america? who is the majority in…..i digress - you’re right! the majority does cause all the problems.
By kriddi
June 6, 2007 2:18 PM | Link to this
terrence, what is wrong with you? Calvin Johnson was great college player, and I hope he will be great pro, but you cant sacrifice your whole draft for one player! New Orleans is still trying to get back what they gave up for Ricky Williams! One person does not make a team. To get CJ we would have had to give up as much as Tampa Bay gave up for Jon Gruden. That netted the Bucs one championship and several losing seasons. Why don’t you do something useful, like criticizing barry bonds. Kiljoy hit the nail right on the head.
By Dawg Hater#1
June 6, 2007 2:22 PM | Link to this
Mark= UGA house of thugs very low class!
By Najeh Davenpoop
June 6, 2007 2:29 PM | Link to this
They should have tried harder, true. But the price that the Lions were asking was too much. To get two (Anderson, Houston), possibly three (Nicholas), defensive starters and at least one (Blalock) offensive starter out of a draft is very good, for a Falcons team that had so many holes after the disastrous Jim Mora era. The NFL’s trade landscape has changed a lot since 2001, when the Falcons paid a relatively modest price (three picks plus a backup WR) to move up from #5 to #1 to grab Michael Vick. After the Eli Manning trade in 2004, when the Giants sacrificed two first-rounders plus three other picks, trading up into the top 5 has become almost impossible without paying a similar price. And that certainly wouldn’t have been worth it when you have as many holes as the Falcons’ roster.
Look at the elite teams in the NFL, and show me one that sacrificed multiple picks in a draft to trade up and grab a top-5 player recently. The elite teams stockpile draft picks so that they can continue to replenish their roster year in and year out without having to rely on free agency. I’m a Tech fan and I would have loved to see Calvin in a Falcons uniform, but the Falcons did the right thing.
By Scott
June 6, 2007 2:33 PM | Link to this
Thanks for the news flash Terrance. That a way to stay on top of current events. Did Jim Rome give you that scoop? Calvin Johnson - all world athlete/all world character; good for Atl Falcons image right now. Breaking news! I guess the Falcons should hire you to be in the war room next time. What a fraud! You shouldn’t be asking people their opinion on sports, you should be asking them if they want to supersize their value meal! Oh yeah, take the Stews with ya.
By doodoobailey
June 6, 2007 2:37 PM | Link to this
I think we need to pick up Paul Oliver in the supp. draft and let him shut down CJ like he did in the UGA/GT game. Go DAWGS; tech sucks, tech still sucks.
By doodoobailey
June 6, 2007 2:41 PM | Link to this
you suck too terrance; nice post Scott
By Frontman
June 6, 2007 2:44 PM | Link to this
The one point I haven’t heard people make is: put yourself in Calvin’s shoes. Would you like to come to Atlanta and catch (maybe) 45 balls a year, or would you like to go to a place where you’ll catch at least 80 balls a year and be an All-Pro? Folks, if you can’t get the ball to him, it doesn’t matter how good he is. Just ask GT fans about that…
By terence moorehead
June 6, 2007 2:46 PM | Link to this
bob that head up and down you waste of life. stick to hand jobs and reach arounds as that is the only thing you’re good at.
By Brown Rice
June 6, 2007 3:07 PM | Link to this
All you haters on Terrance ( Old Dirty Southerners ) find something else to do . Don’t get mad because you do not qualify at all to do his job. - Big Joke
You mean qualifying through Affirmative Action, Big Jake?
By brandon
June 6, 2007 3:27 PM | Link to this
The falcons had other needs than wideout. Yes i like calvin johnson and think he is talented but i also think thd falcons filled thier needs the best possible in the draft. oh yeah by the way dont froget we do have a guy named joe horn now to go along with jenkins and white.
By Big Moe
June 6, 2007 3:40 PM | Link to this
They should have went after Johnson.
Keyshawn Johnson!!
With Finnerman(sp?) injured, he was a sure handed 6’5” receiver that could have made up for Vick’s lack of accuracy.
By Justin Sterritt
June 6, 2007 3:47 PM | Link to this
We schould have kept Schaub and traded Vick for Johnson. Schaub is just as good if not better than Vick. Vick is just a faster and more electrifying player.
By Justin Sterritt
June 6, 2007 3:47 PM | Link to this
We schould have kept Schaub and traded Vick for Johnson. Schaub is just as good if not better than Vick. Vick is just a faster and more electrifying player.
By KnowBest
June 6, 2007 3:48 PM | Link to this
MAN SHUT UP! You need to be replaced with someone with some real sports knowledge. You been writing this same crap for 15+ years!
By weezie
June 6, 2007 3:49 PM | Link to this
This discussion is crazy. Moore is an idiot. Draft somebody b/c there a good guy! One man does not a team make.
By Marvin
June 6, 2007 3:52 PM | Link to this
Already in the Hall of Fame is he? You do hyperbole well, Teri.
By Shell
June 6, 2007 4:03 PM | Link to this
Would Johnson play defense? I remember a certain falcon defense allowing a team(Carolina) late in the season to run the ball on 3rd and 5 and convert 7 out of 9 times. Now someone tell me how would acquiring Calvin Johnson correct that problem?
By Dwayne
June 6, 2007 4:06 PM | Link to this
We need to worry about getting another QB before we get any more WR……..
By rel
June 6, 2007 4:07 PM | Link to this
Why would you wish the same fate for Calvin as a Falcon as he had at Tech? It’s bad enough playing for one quarterback in this town that isn’t capable of getting the ball to his receivers.
By Slapnuts
June 6, 2007 4:17 PM | Link to this
Give me a break Terrance Moore… The Falcons needed more than 1 great player. They need starters. With this draft they got what was necessary. Don’t use the Michael Jordan/ Sam Bowie analogy. Jordan filled 1 spot out of 5 starters. Give it a rest you Braves loving Falcon bashing hack.
By Connie Lingous
June 6, 2007 4:22 PM | Link to this
I doubt it T-Mo. Nice column/wild guesswork, though. At least you kept the reverse racism to a minimum for a change.
By SnuffySmith
June 6, 2007 4:24 PM | Link to this
I truly wish that the Falcons had taken Calvin Johnson. The Falcons could have dumped Mike Vick on Oakland with a high draft choice and the Raiders would have taken the bait. Mike Vick is headed for Cell Block H and will soon be gone. Had the Falcons known that Vick was nothing but trouble, they would have kept Schaub, traded Vick for Calvin Johnson and the Falcons would have been on their way to going to the Superbowl. Now, Vick is in the midst of a fight for his survival. Vick may never see daylight again once he is vacuumed up by the authorities. Terrence Moore is right on the money with this article. The Falcons should have tried to get Johnson, while keeping Schaub and disposing of Vick at the same time.